Timer



July 3, 1923. 1,460,823

J. C. OSBORN TIMER F;:Llec1 April 5, 1920 Patented July 3, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE C. OSBORN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO J". W. DUNTLEY, OF CHICAGO,

. ILLINOIS.

TIMER.

Application filed April 8,

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Jnssn C. OsBoRN, :1 citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook 6 and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Timer; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accom- 1 panying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to a type of device adapted to automatically break an electric circuit at regular intervals andmore particularly to the type of ignition-interrupting device used in internal combustion engines and known as timers. Great difficulties have heretofore been experienced with the timers in internal combustion engines due to fouling of the contact points therein. Since the fouling of the contact point in the timer of an internal combustion engine results in the missing of one or more of the cylinders of said engine, it is necessary in existing types of timers to make frequent adjustments and replacements in order to keep the timer in condition.

It is an object of this invention to provide a timer-tor internal combustion engines of such construction that the danger of fouling of the contact points of said timer is obviated.

It is another object of this invention to provide an automatic interrupter for an electric circuit wherein one of the contact members of said interrupter slidably engages the other contact member thereon each time the electric circuit is interrupted.

49 It is also an object of this invention to provide a timer for internal combustion engines having a cam and roller mechanism whereb the action of the contact points is contro ed.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a timer for internal combustion engines wherein the contact points engage each other with a sliding or wiping motion.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings. j

T e invention (in a preferred form) is ii lustrated in the drawings and hereinafter i more described.

1920. Serial N0. 370,987.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a timer for internal combustion engines embodying the principles of this invention with the rear cover plate removed and showing the timer cam in section.

- Figure 2 is a side elevation of a timer embodying the principles of this invention with a section removed showing a cam shaft for operating the timer.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the contact mechanism of a timer embodying this invention and the operation thereof.

Figure 4 is an enlar ed sectional detail taken on line 44 of igure 3, showing parts in elevation.

As shown on the drawings:

The timer embodying the. principles of this invention is supported in an annular casing l, which is provided with an integral projecting chamber 2. For covering the rear of said casing a centrally apertured rear cover plate 3 is provided. Engaged through the aperture in the cover plate 3 is the rotatable shaft 4 which drives the cam 5. Engaged in equally spaced apertures in the casing 1 arethe electrical terminals 6, which are insulated from said casing by insulators 7 and 8. Formed at the inner ends of the terminal 6 are the Contact members 9, which may be of tungsten steel or other suitable contact material. Binding nuts 10 are placed on the terminals 6 to secure the electrical conductors thereto. Secured in the casing 1 and parallel to the axis of the shaft 4 are a plurality of projecting studs 11 which correspond in number to the terminals 6. The outer end of each of the shafts 11 is reduced in diameter and pivoted thereon is a bracket 12, which is provided with a slot 13 parallel to said shaft 11, and a pair of depending forks 14. A pin 15, also parallel to the shaft 11, is secured between the forks l4. and pivoted thereon is a roller 16. Said roller 16 is preferably constructed of fibre or vulcanized material but may be made of other material if desired. Secured transversely of the bracket 12 and parallel to the shaft 11 is a pin 17, which is oiiset from the line connectig the shaft 11 and the pin 15.

Pivoted on the in 1? and engaged through the'slot 13 in the bracket 12 is a lever 18, to er end of which is se- .nenaher and. the enter c the I iii.

end ofwhich is provided with an integrally downwardly extending portion. 19 which in turn isprovided with an apertured outward extension 21. A spring 22 coiled-around the shaft 11 inside the bracket 13 has one end thereof engaged against the inner surface of the casing 1 and the other end engaged in the aperture in the extenslon 21. Said spring 22 acts normally to hold the sliding contact 20 in contact with the stationary contact 9 and to hold the rollers 16 inwardly tact 2O allowed to come in touch with its corresponding stationary contact member 9. As a result of this arrangement, as clearly shown in Figure 1, there is only one of the .slidable contacts 20 which is in contact with its corresponding contact 9 at a given time. As clearly shown by the dotted line in F igure' 3, there is a wiping or sliding of the contact 20 on the contact 9 every time; a contact is made or broken. This is due to the fact that the initial movement from the roller 16 which is caused by the .cam 5 causes a movement of the pin 15 as-shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. The resulting parallel movement ofthe oifset pin 17 causes the contact 20 attached to the bracket 18 to slide as shown by the dotted line.- Further movement of the roller 16 and the shaft 15 causes the bracket 14 to rotate about the shaft 11, the lever 18 engaging the bracket at the top of the apertures 13 and the contact 20 consequently being forced downwardly away from the contact 9 and This tendency, how-.

the circuit broken. The reverse of this process of course takes place when the contact is made, the contact 20 first making contact with the stationary contact 9 and then sliding thereacross due to the. movement of the pin 17. When contact is made the electric circuit is through the terminal 6, the stationary contact 9, the contact 20, the lever 18,- the bracket 14 and the shaft 11 to the casing l and the frame of the engine. i

am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted other.- wise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

In a timer the combination with a casing having a plurality of equally spaced apertures in the periphery thereof, of electric terminals engaged in said apertures and insulated therefrom, a stub shaft secured in the casing adjacent each'of said terminals, a bracket pivoted on each of said shafts, 'a roller pivoted in each bracket, a lever also pivoted in each bracket on a different center than the roller, a contact member on the lever. adapted to engage the electric terminal, a spring engaged around the shaft and having its extremities secured to the lever and to the inside of the casing tending to hold thecontact member on the lever in contact with the electric terminal in the casing, and a rotatable cam in the casing for normally holding the contact members separated-and allowing said members to suecessively contact. y In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. JESSE C. OSBORN.

Witnewes:

CARLTON HILL, EARL M. .HARDINE.

til) 

